Xyliwhite™ Toothpaste FAQs

Share this NOWledge:

What is potassium sorbate and why do you use it in your XyliWhite™ toothpastes?

Potassium sorbate is a polyunsaturated fat created by combining sorbic acid with potassium hydroxide. While it is found in nature, most potassium sorbate in use today is synthetic. Potassium sorbate is a preservative with powerful antimicrobial properties. Most of the commercially available toothpastes today include some sort of preservative to prevent unwanted microbes from contaminating the tube. Most toothpaste users contaminate their toothpaste tube when applying the product to a used toothbrush, making the growth of microbes in the packaging a major concern.

Potassium sorbate is Generally Regarded As Safe (GRAS), a designation used by the Food and Drug Administration to denote foods and ingredients that are widely deemed safe for human consumption. Potassium sorbate breaks down harmlessly into water and carbon dioxide in the body. Less than 1% potassium sorbate is used in XyliWhite™ toothpastes.

Why do you use carrageenan? Isn’t it considered unsafe?

Carrageenan is used in XyliWhite toothpastes as a natural thickening agent. We use less than 1% carrageenan, and very little if any is ingested when the product is used as directed. Carrageenan in its undenatured state, as well as the seaweed it’s derived from, have repeatedly been shown to be safe. Denatured, heavily processed carrageenan may pose potential health risks. NOW uses only undenatured carrageenan.

Sodium lauryl sulfate, or SLS, is a fatty acid synthetically derived from petroleum. Its overall, long-term safety has never been confirmed, so we choose not to use it in any of our formulations, including XyliWhite. In fact, even if we wanted to use it (and we don’t), the Natural Products Association (NPA) doesn’t allow the use of SLS in natural products. In addition, we choose not to use any artificial surfactants, detergents or foaming agents.

Sodium coco sulfate is the preferred cleansing surfactant for natural products, including toothpastes. Extracted from coconut oil, sodium coco sulfate provides a wider spectrum of naturally occurring fatty acids and isn’t considered to have the same origin and safety issues associated with sodium lauryl sulfate.

Is XyliWhite™ a non-GMO product?

Yes, all XyliWhite™ toothpaste formulas are made with non-GMO ingredients.